This has me thinking about our adoption
into the family of God. When anyone comes to faith and receives Jesus Christ, he/she
is adopted into God’s family. “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the
authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to
those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.” (John 1:12 AMP) This is accomplished by the love of God. “See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed
on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and
counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not
know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize,
acknowledge) Him.” (1 John 3:1 AMP)
This love for each of us did not begin only when we received salvation
through Jesus Christ. Each person
has been loved and longed for by our heavenly Father since before the
foundations of the Earth. “For He foreordained us (destined
us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it
pleased Him and was His kind intent]” (Ephesians 1:5 AMP) To Jeremiah God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I
knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument]” (Jeremiah
1:5b AMP) King David stated, “For You did form my inward parts;
You did knit me together in my mother's womb.” (Psalm
139:13 AMP) God has longingly awaited the adoption of each of His children.
Not only do parents
longingly await the day of adoption, but other family members do as well. Our
friends have two teen sons who have anticipated welcoming the little ones into
their home and hearts. They have been excited and elated as new siblings have
been added and the family grew. Believers in Christ are likewise overjoyed when someone
receives Jesus and enters the family of God. Many of us have prayed and
patiently waited for the time a friend or family member accepts the Father’s offer
of a place in the family of God. We can now rejoice with the angels in heaven. “Even
so, I tell you, there is joy among and
in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who
repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with
abhorrence of his past sins).” (Luke 15:10 AMP)
Adoption day is the day that the family
unit is made legally binding. The little ones now share the same rights as
their older brothers. They are full family members. They have also become
heirs. We who know Jesus have also become heirs to God’s promises. “And
if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow
heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]” (Romans 8:17a AMP) We will share in all that the family of God has in
store, both here on earth and through eternity in heaven.
We have been freed from sin and welcomed to the family. “For [the Spirit which] you have now
received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear,
but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in
[the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!” (Romans 8:15 AMP) We can now call God “Daddy” and know that He will love,
protect, provide for and care for us. We can trust Him in all things. Together
we can grow and become more like our true Daddy. He has plenty of love for all
of us.
If you have never received Jesus, please do so. There are many of us
ready to party with the angels to welcome you to the family!
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